Air Force

People First – January 25, 2012

Editor’s Note: The “People First” section is compiled from information from the Air Force Personnel Center, TRICARE, 56th Force Support Squadron, Airman and Family Readiness Flight, Veterans Affairs, the civilian personnel office and armed forces news services. For the complete story, go to the web address listed at the end of the story.

Nonvolunteer MTI selection process implemented

“Low MTI manning levels in 2003 resulted in nonvolunteer selections, so this decision is not without precedent,” said Col. Deborah Landry, the AFPC Airman Assignments Division chief. “We have a similar manning problem now, as well as other concerns, so this month we will use the nonvolunteer selection process to bring the manning levels up.”

Manning alone will not correct other problems identified during the recent investigation into MTI misconduct, the colonel said.

To help resolve that problem, AFPC will nonvolunteer only technical sergeants and master sergeants based on grade and time on station. AFPC will continue to accept volunteer applications, but will supplement those with nonvolunteers. Staff sergeants may still apply, but acceptance will be by exception.

Airmen selected will receive their assignment notification through the normal notification process.

DOD official lauds veteran’s commercial license effort

Maryland has joined 33 other states in agreeing to waive the skills test for veterans and service members who have military training that would entitle them to a commercial driver’s license, a senior Defense Department official said.

Frank DiGiovanni, director of training, readiness and strategy in the office of the deputy assistant secretary of defense for readiness, joined Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and officials from the Maryland Department of Transportation, veterans’ organizations, and federal, state and local offices to announce two new services available to veterans through the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, or MVA.

Along with the departments of Labor, Transportation and Veterans Affairs, DOD is working with national credentialing agencies, states and other stakeholders to address the complex challenges of certification and licensure for veterans.

DOD’s Credentialing and Licensing Task Force was established to help service members in high-demand fields gain industry-recognized, nationally portable credentials to increase their competitiveness in the private sector after separation from the military.

‘Unprofessional’ relationships now included in victim’s counsel program

The new Special Victims’ Counsel Program starting Air Force-wide on Jan. 28 will be expanded to Basic Military trainees and technical training students who have been involved in unprofessional relationships of a physical and sexual nature.

The SVC pilot program is designed to provide victims of sexual assault, support throughout the military justice process, by providing independent legal representation designed for victims’ distinctive needs.

“The Special Victim’s Counsel is a very important addition to the system of support we already have in place to help victims of sexual assault,” said Gen. Edward Rice Jr., commander of Air Education and Training Command. “It is an indication of how seriously we take the crime of sexual assault and how committed we are to addressing the needs of our Airmen who are victims of this offense.”

The Special Victims’ Counsel Program entitles Air Force victims of sexual assault to legal counsel. It also entitles some categories of dependents as well as sister service members who report being sexually assaulted by an Airman.

Officers and enlisted Airmen getting promoted in March will experience pay delays because of the Military Personnel Data System upgrade occurring that month.

“Individuals to promote from March 4 to 26 will not get their promotions updated in MilPDS because of the upgrade,” said Lt. Col. Shelley Strong, the Air Force Personnel Center operations division chief. “Their promotions will be projected in MilPDS and will automatically update as soon as the system is back online.”

Airmen are authorized to sew on their new rank on their respective promotion dates, but they will not receive an increase in pay until their promotion is updated in MilPDS and processed by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

Airmen should contact their base military personnel section if their promotion information is not updated in vMPF within 10 days after the MilPDS upgrade is completed. Base military personnel sections will track local personnel records to avoid overpayment for Airmen who received a promotion cancellation or delay.

Local Military Discounts

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